Masters Week is winding down and nothing really major political took place this past week. But hey, that’s a good thing. Right?
That doesn’t mean that I have nothing to write about, I’m just going to comment on some other things this week.
Last Saturday was indeed a full day of events.
The day began with a visit to the Augusta National Women’s Ametuer tournament. You can tell that most of the visitors to the tournaments are from out of town and country.
How?
Because no Augustan will walk from the parking lots to the entrance gate to the souvenir and concession area without complaining.
Think about it. Downtown has two multi level parking decks and people would rather park on the center mediums, handicap, no parking and in front of fire hydrants than to walk to the venue of choice.
Make no mistake about it, I have complained also. I will park in the decks downtown though.
My lady wanted to visit the souvenir shop for a couple or three items, and boy howdy was the line long. It looked like a day at Walt Disney World. Everyone was just waiting and winding along in a forever line for just a few seconds of thrills.
Being ever so considerate of me, I was parked on a bench to wait. And wait, and wait I did.
In fact, a couple of men walked by and stated:” I know the feeling.”
About an hour later she returned empty handed. I asked what the problem was. Nothing, she just got tired of waiting. Now I may be vociferous, but I also know when not to be.
That was a time for me to keep my trap shut.
So we went to concessions and got a couple of $1.50 sandwiches and sweet teas and hung out by the first tee for a while. The course was, as always, beautiful. The National is always hospitable and extraordinarily operated. It was again, as usual, a fulfilling experience.
Later, we went downtown to the Mayor’s Masters Reception. We parked in the Reynold’s Street parking deck and had a leisurely walk to the Augusta Common. There we ran into many people that we talked and mingled with.
The mayor and the first lady, Toni, were as welcoming as always. Commissioners Francine Scott and Stacy Pulliam, as well as former Commissioner Dennis Williams were there as well.
I personally saw no other sitting commissioners there. That doesn’t mean they weren’t there, I just didn’t see them.
Candidates for the May 21 st elections were in attendance. Well, some of them that I saw and spoke with.
District five candidate Don Clark was there and district seven candidate Tina Slendak was there as well. District one candidate Matt Aitken was there as well as Jo Rae Jenkins.
I had a nice conversation with Columbia County Chairman Doug Duncan. We talked of some of the things that were going on in Columbia County. I hope to have a follow up conversation and see some of the details.
A very nice lady came up and introduced herself to me. She was the mother of Augusta’s District Attorney Jared Williams. We had a very nice conversation.
Ms. Williams shared her thoughts on some matters. She is very attuned with the political climate and I would enjoy sitting down with this lady over a cup of coffee sometimes and have a longer conversation with her.
Dee Griffin of WJBF was the master of ceremonies for the reception. I have seen Ms Griffin host two of Tony Howard’s Motown revues and she just gets better and better. She is very engaging and has a wonderful way about herself.
We took folding lawn chairs so we could be near the stage and sit so people behind us could have an unencumbered view. The music was excellent. It was joyful watching the people dance and father’s being engaged with their children.
That’s what it is supposed to be about.
The event had food trucks, kiddie blowups , music and fireworks. I have to tell you all about an Augusta treasure that I heard for the first time: Tara Claitt and the Snack.
What a pleasure to not only watch, but to listen to this young woman sing. She is indeed a singer of songs and not a screamer. She caresses a note just like a mother would caress her child.
As I sat listening, she and the band did something that was out of the ordinary, she covered a Journey song. No one really does that because of the once lead vocalist, Steve Perry, hits notes others find challenging to say the least.
Now, I know many of you may not know or remember Steve Perry or even Journey. Perry has a high range voice that is hard to pigeon hole.Most avoid performing a Journey sound because of the vocal range.
Well, imagine my surprise when she and the band began the Journey classic, “Don’t Stop Believin’.’”
Better than excellent, Claitt hit every note with perfection. The band was tighter than a size 36 belt around a 40-inch waist and didn’t miss a lick. I very much look forward to being in another audience listening and watching her perform.
The Mayor’s Masters Reception was sponsored by a new business for Augusta, Parker’s Kitchen. The fireworks show was sponsored by long-time Augusta business Windsor Jewelers.
This past week has been another successful Masters tournament and Augusta has played a gentile host. This week will be back to business and the usual shenanigans of Augusta’s government.
Now, of course, some certain people will take exception as to who and what is being written and will state that it is being divisive, yellow journalism and racist. When a fact is being reported, it is just that, a fact.
If the reader takes it as being divisive, that is indeed their choice. It is still a fact.
Now everyone has heard about the California fast food workers getting the raise in pay to a minimum of $20 an hour. A Big Mac Combo is now $25 in the Golden State. Not only that but, businesses have had to close because of the wage.
The big franchise businesses have cut jobs out and laid off many staff members because of the unaffordable cost.
Tia Orr, director of the Service Employees International Union of California, had this to say about the $20 wage: “A transformational step toward an economy that works for all, not just billionaires.”
Wonder how all the people that no longer have jobs feel about that statement.
Folks, as always, you just can’t make this stuff up.
